Makoa 5th grade Field Trip

(May 2018)

Makoa's 5th grade class went on a field trip out to Lahaina, which back in the 19th century was the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

They were several historic sites that they kids learned about and explored. 

This first site was the site of Moku'ula Island and Pond. The pond has dried up for the most part, but used to be quite a large pond that surrounded an island. 

The Moku'ula island was a small sacred island in the 16th -18th centuries where the High Chiefs lived. It eventually became the home of of the King in the 19th century when Lahaina was the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

The site was considered a piko, an axis mundi. A place of central cosmic power. The fish pond that surrounded the island was the home of the powerful lizard goddess named Kihawahine.

The spirit lived in the rivers and ponds and mediated between the earth and the water.

Kihawahine's presence at Moku'ula made the island a central power point for the Hawaiian royalty who through the goddess communed with the socio-political world and the spiritual realms.

(More information can be found at sacred-sites.org)

From there was took a walk over to the Wailoa Church and cemetery.  Many of the High chiefs and royalty are buried here.

The kids all had a worksheet to fill out at each location to help them learn.

The next stop on the tour was the Hale Pa'ahao, the prison. 

Th following plaque says, "This prison was builtin 1852 during the reign of King Kamehameha III to lock up rowdy sailors who failed to return to their ship at sundown. As well as unruly natives. The surrounding coral wall was built in 1856. The house and cells were rebuilt in 1959."

The fifth graders loved this place...hmmm

I thought it was pretty interesting, as well. Ha!

I love this banana patch. 

These next two photos were very interesting displays of who was in the jail cells and for what they were placed there for.

 

In the corner of the courtyard was a small Harpoon Whaling Boat and an anchor and plaque about there importance.

 

The last stop on the tour was the Hauola Stone. "Hauola" translated means extended life and health. This was the birthing stone for royalty.

And that was the end of the Lahaina tour by the amazing 5th grade teachers.

It was lunch at the park by the beach and back to the buses to school.

I an such a nerd. I seriously love going on my kids field trips and learning. 

And I'm also so blessed to be here in Hawaii going on the coolest field trips.